Organizers collecting donations for local benefit

November 16, 2012

Two Canadian angels have recently returned to the island of Fort Myers Beach to help put smiles on thousands of children's faces this holiday, for those who otherwise wouldn't have much to smile about this season.

Jim and Sharon Jamieson have been operating their local 501-C3 Spirit of Christmas Foundation for nearly a decade, offering hundreds of local families in need a Christmas miracle, year in and year out.

Every year, to raise funds to help these families, the duo hosts a big benefit at our local American Legion on Buttonwood Drive. This year, the benefit will be held Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 10 p.m., featuring live music, hundreds of raffle and door prizes, delicious food, silent auctions, 50/50s and plenty of holiday cheer.

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Jim and Sharon Jamieson recently returned from their Canada home to begin preparing for the Spirit of Christmas Foundation’s upcoming fund-raiser, to benefit local families in need, allowing them to have a Christmas they otherwise couldn’t afford. Anyone interested in making a donation for the benefit’s raffle prizes or silent auction table may contact the duo. Photo by MELISSA SCHNEIDER.

The two-angel-team is currently seeking donations for the benefit, either in the form of gifts for the silent auctions and raffle prizes, or monetary contributions for the Spirit of Christmas cause.

"This year, we hope to help 350 children," Jim said. "Sharon is working feverishly every day to find local families in need. We always help new families, every year. In the nearly 10 years we've run the Spirit of Christmas Foundation, we have helped about 1,500 families and 2,000 children. Every item donated to our benefit's raffle and silent auctions help in giving to more local families that year."

Jim said the community support of the Spirit of Christmas' upcoming benefit has been phenomenal so far.

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"We've been given some beautiful prizes so far, including hotel space from the Holiday Inn, Pink Shell, DiamondHead, Gull Wing, The Harbor House and Matanzas," he said. "We received some beautiful golf course reservations for four to play at numerous golf courses, dining gift certificates, we'll have a Christmas tree with over $500 worth of gift certificates on it, we'll have a wine wagon with more than 40 bottles of wine in it, a 50/50 drawing that was pretty substantial last year, and several other lovely, lovely prizes, all donated by such gracious businesses within our island community."

For more information, or to make a donation for the benefit, or a contribution to the cause, visit SpiritOfChristmasInc.com, or call Jim Jamieson, 940-4236, or Sharon Jamieson, 463-2717.

Fact Box

Spirit of Christmas Foundation benefit

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT THE AMERICAN LEGION

When: Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 10 p.m.

Where: 899 Buttonwood Drive, San Carlos Island

What: A benefit complete with live music, great raffles, silent auctions, 50/50s and more, all to raise funds for the Spirit of Christmas Foundation, who gives hundreds of local families and their kids a Christmas who otherwise couldn't have one.